Good Advice from Former Living Environment Students

Don't just take my word for how to succeed in this course. These letters contain valuable advice written by students who took my course in previous years. Please read them carefully.

There are many pieces of advice that I can give to incoming Living Environment students. Personally, I love science and specifically biology, so being in Mr. Sprague's class was the best part of my day. To succeed in this class, you need to complete all your homework, do nows, hand in the labs, and do well on the tests. I know it's hard to guarantee yourself a good grade on tests, but there are some really sufficient ways to study for Mr. Sprague's exams. For example, he always gives a review sheet with topics for a quiz or exam. Using these to study, you can make sure you know all the concepts on the tests. Another way is using practice questions on the course website!!! I know it might sound bothersome and time consuming, but I can assure you that it isn't a waste of time. (Usually questions on the website end up on the test!) If you try your hardest in this class it will be so fun and interesting. Mr. Sprague is an awesome teacher so reward him by doing well in his class and on the Regents :)

AnaJune 2015

When I was a freshman, I thought I was smart enough that I could pass this course without doing any work, but I guessed wrong and failed the semester. Now that I had to take the whole class over again, I changed everything. This time, I came on take, never cut class, did my homework, and participated. My advice is to do all of your work and don't slack, or you'll regret it like I did.

AmerJune 2015

If you didn't know Mr. Sprague is very strict with being late. If you have him in the morning (first class), you better not be late for even one minute. Mr. Sprague closes the door as soon as the bell rings, and it will be tough to do well on your report card if you are late.

AnonymousJune 2015

I wish I knew that if you keep failing the exams you will fail the whole course. High school is totally different than in middle school, where you'll still be promoted even if you fail the tests. If I had to do the course all over, I would study my class notes ahead of time, as soon as the teacher announces the date of the test.

AnonymousJune 2015

This is my third time repeating the class, and I wish I had taken it serious when I was a freshman. I missed a lot of labs and didn't make them up and then it was too late. Doing the labs and the homework are the key to passing this class. It would've been easy to pass the first time if I'd just done my work.

So if you're in Mr. Sprague's class, just do your work and you'll have fun.

AnonymousJune 2015

In order to do well in Mr. Sprague's class, these three will be important: classwork, homework, and EXAMS. Be sure to always get to class on time and complete your do now quickly in order to get credit. Homeworks are usually due every week, usually graded out of 4. Mr. Sprague's homework assignments are really beneficial to you because they relate to exam questions and they're formatted like the Regents. The trick to Mr. Sprague's exams are to study 1 week ahead of time. Studying the day before will NOT be enough to help you pass. In order to do well, also pay attention in his class. Mr. Sprague's test questions are very similar to the ones on the Regents. What's great about his class is that he prepares you really well for the Regents exam, he puts a lot of effort into his teaching, he cares about his students, he sometimes gives second chances, and he is enthusiastic about his work. You will enjoy this class if you follow these three steps: do your homework, study, and complete the classwork.

Have a great year!SunzidaJune 2014

At the beginning of the school year, I wish I knew how useful the practice exam questions on the course webpage are. They are really helpful and prepare you for not only tests throughout the semester, but also for the Regents. My test grades went through the roof once I started using the questions on the course webpage to study for the tests and I highly recommend it to all of you!

Good luck and work hard!GillianJune 2014

Dear incoming students,

Welcome to Edward R. Murrow High School. Most of you are probably nervous to start high school, so my first piece of advice would be to calm down. There's no need to be nervous! It's important to be aware and educated about the changes you will go through during this process of settling in to your first year. It's very important to know that things will take some adjusting based on the middle school you attended.

Edward R. Murrow High School prepares you for college and gives you the opportunity to develop your independent characteristics. My best advice would be to keep on top of yourself. Teachers will expect a lot from you and at first it will be hard, but I assure you will do great. Do ALL of your homework, this is very important because it does count! Study for all your tests no matter how prepared you think you are. Also make sure to pay attention to how teachers format tests. Teachers usually use the same patterns so it will make studying easier.

From a former student,CiaraJune 2014

Dear Freshie,

Welcome to the MR. SPRAGUE SHOW. This will be your favorite class of the day. But it can only be fun if you actually understand what is going on around you, otherwise you'll see Mr. Sprague playing with puppets and start to question his sanity (not that I ever did that). The tests are quite hard, so don't think you can either "wing" it or cram the studying for the night before the test. And as much as we all hate homework, Mr. Sprague's is given not as frequently and in fair amounts. It is informative and truthfully does help on the test. Always come to class because otherwise you'll miss A LOT of information just in that one lesson.

Enjoy the class and hope you get to watch the Mr. Sprague Show next semester too.JacquelineJune 2014

Dear incoming freshman,

Here are some tips to help you get through your first year of high school. Most of us had super bad habits in junior high, but high school can become really stressful if you don't study. I didn't know how important it was to study. A lot of us don't like to study, but studying even for a little bit of time can really pay off. You have to apply yourself in every class. Just slacking off for one day can make the rest of the semester hectic. Oh, and when Mr. Sprague says "Try the practice questions on the course webpage", DO IT. It seriously helps. So when his test/quiz comes around you'll be super confident.

So all those bad habits you have now - break them. High school could be so much fun when passing your classes. Trust me, I know. I struggled badly in the beginning, but I got it together and started passing my classes. Don't be nervous - you got this!

Lots of love,AshlynJune 2014

Dear Murrow Freshman,

GOOD LUCK! Some helpful tips:

1. Do ALL your homework.

2. Work to the best of your ability.

3. Participate A LOT: Even if you don't know anyone in the class and you feel scared and you're not sure of the answer, just say it. If you say the wrong answer, just shrug it off because at least the teacher knows you try. Don't be shy and speak up.

4. Don't be lazy.

5. Make good friends that have a good influence on you.

6. Be a leader, not a follower.

7. DO YOUR WORK!!!

Love,[Anonymous]June 2014

Dear Incoming Freshmen,

High school is way harder than middle school and if you think you're going to do well in class without studying, you don't know what you are in for. One big mistake I made was I didn't study enough like I should of. I recommend that all of you buy the Regents review book in the beginning of the year. This will help you study for tests. Another key thing to succeed in this class is to be organized. That is so important and it's a huge reason why I didn't do as well as I wanted to. My notes and classwork were messy and unorganized and before my tests I could never find my notes to study and that's why I didn't do well on the tests. I suggest you all get planners and write down any assignment or important dates because you will be more prepared for exams and you won't have to procrastinate for projects and other assignments. I wish you all luck and don't think for a second that you are going to get a good grade without hard work.

EdinJune 2014

Dear Freshman,

I'm proud of you for reading this far. Many kids don't take advice. Advice is great for a first step in high school and even in biology, so here is some:

First thing you need to know is know what you're being asked. Read the question 1,000 times if you have to. Understanding is key to everything. Also be straight forward. When you're straight forward, confusion is not even an option. Finding the answer makes you get work done rather than trying to talk around the question and going off topic. Last but not least, try. Even if you can't understand the question, trying it won't kill you. Who knows - maybe you will get it right.

Sincerely,CierraJune 2014

Dear Future Students,

To be successful in Mr. Sprague's Living Environment class you have to follow all of his procedures. He likes things done in a certain way and if you don't do it correctly...well then, I feel bad for you. Just do all homeworks and your do-nows instead of chatting at the beginning of class because he will take away points for incomplete do-nows. Go to every lab and study so you can pass and take the Regents. The test prep is useful so use it! Stay focused but most importantly...show up and do the work every day!

Sincerely,RobertJune 2014

The class is really really fun but you have to start studying right away. If you try to skip studying, it isn't going to be fun anymore :P

[Anonymous]June 2014

Being in Mr. Sprague's class for two semesters, I realized that doing your homework really helps with passing exams. Also, review your exams when you get them back! If you review your exams it's impossible for you to make the same mistakes again. Please take advantage of everything Mr. Sprague does for you. This class is really good if you're a visual learner.

Good luck!ChelseaJune 2014

Dear next year freshmen,

I need to say in order to pass Mr. Sprague's class ALWAYS DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND PASS HIS TESTS! He's a really fun and enthusiastic teacher, but at the same time he gets work done. If you need help passing always come on your OPTA (free time) and ask for help studying or homework help. If I could take the course over again, I would have studied harder so my test grades would have been sky high instead of just OK.

Well good luck,[Anonymous]June 2013

Dear future students,

First of all, don't come late to class! Be on time, be prepared, turn on your light bulb, and pay really close attention. You will enjoy taking this class, but you should know that Mr. Sprague's tests are VERY DIFFICULT and you have REALLY STUDY! I wish that I had asked for help when I needed it and been serious about getting to class on time. Go to tutoring if you need help.

Good luck and enjoy!AngieJune 2013

Dear future students,

Science -- what a fun subject! Mr. Sprague made this class fun for me. We watched video clips, saw pictures, designed experiments, and played a review game. It all related to biology and he always got his point across. Mr. Sprague's homeworks are really helpful. Trust me, it might seem like homework is boring and a lot of work, but it's very helpful for preparing for the tests. Go over the review sheets carefully and try the practice questions.

Sometimes I was too full of myself and thought I didn't need to study -- then I'd be disappointed in my grade, especially because I knew I could have done better. Just remember to keep studying and do your homework because it pays off.

From,MariahJune 2013

What I really I know on the first day was how difficult the tests would be. I didn't expect so many Regents questions.

I started going to the course webpage and doing the practice questions. I wish I would've have used those from the very beginning of the semester. They are so helpful because they are similar to the questions that are on the actual exam. Often, the question may be worded differently, but it is asking for the same concept. Good luck to all you are reading this. :)

Sincerely,[Anonymous]June 2013

Dear students,

High school isn't easy, in fact a lot of classes can be very difficult. My advice for you is to always be involved in class with everyone else and always do homework because it's a big part of your grade. Also, you need to study for the exams -- and not just the night before -- start studying at least three days before. And the most important thing is to always try your best.

Sincerely,SofiyaJune 2013

To next year's freshmen,

This is an AWESOME course! You learn so much. Here's some tips on how to do extremely well so you can strive for that E:Always do your homework. It's such an easy thing to do and it's basically free points towards your grade.Studying for tests is key. My freshmen year I failed Living Environment because I was lazy and thought I could get away without studying. I then had to retake the course as a sophomore and I worked so much harder and got a G for both semesters. Hard work always pays off.Mr. Sprague has a few quotes you'll learn about like "DNA makes protein and protein makes us" or "STARCH BIG, glucose small." Make sure you understand them.

GioJune 2013

Dear students,

I hope you enjoy Living Environment just like I did. For you to do well in the course you are going to have to study a lot, do all the homework, participate, and ask questions. Keep in mind that labs are really important. Without them, you won't be able to pass the class or take the Regents. Let me give you some advice: even if you don't like a subject do your best to get it over with that way you don't have to take it over.

When I took Living Environment, I wish I knew how hard the tests can be. Make sure that you are ready to do the work in order to get the grade you want.

Sincerely,NaldaJune 2013

Dear incoming students,

Well here's a guide to pass and do well in Living Environment with the famous Mr. Sprague Show!! :) First off, before you start the class get the teacher's name correct. The first day of class I called him Mr. Spragew. Next off, don't ever lose your notes. Your notes are everything on the test. Stay focused in class even if it might be hard to take the teacher seriously with his crazy outbursts and interesting furry friends. I've learned so much in this course, and believe it or not his sayings help us so much. You need to make sure you're always prepared with homework because you need to practice to really understand the lesson. This class is fun, but doing the work is required to enjoy the course. Don't be late and try to do the "do now" on time, this all actually counts towards your grade.

From SabrinaJune 2013

P.S. He thinks if he puts curly hair on an animal that it looks like Mr. Sprague.

Dear student,

This Living Environment course has been very fun and filled with knowledge. Having the opportunity to experience two fantastic semesters of "The Mr. Sprague Show", I wish I knew how heavily classwork-based this course is. Participation is the key to understanding and learning as much as possible in this class. I also wish I could go back to the beginning and try to keep my coupons because I forgot that they are extra credit on the final exam. Good luck!

AlfiyaJune 2013

Dear future students,

Living Environment with Mr. Sprague is like a long journey. This class opens up your mind to things you never thought you would ever know about the environment. In the beginning I thought it would be like any other science class, but it was so much more than that. I've learned so much throughout this course with Mr. Sprague. If I would be able to take this course over again I would study more. Don't take anything for granted, you have an awesome teacher. Be prepared to hear... "DNA makes proteins and proteins make us!!!". He'll be screaming it for a while, but you'll get used to it.

DestinyJune 2013

Dear future students,

On the first day of taking this course I wish I knew that attendance is majorly important. If I could take the course over I would have taken advantage of Mr. Sprague's teaching abilities by being in class every day because being absent so much cost me my grade.

ShylaJune 2013

Dear newcomers,

When I took this course I wish I knew how much studying and practicing it required. At first, high school classes may not seem all that different from middle school classes, but they are. Just know that you can't pass high school classes by doing exactly the same things that you did to pass middle school classes... you have to try hard and take the time to practice to succeed. I should have studied harder and not waited until after I did poorly on the first test.

Freshmen -- don't take the teachers for granted. In high school, you have to try hard ALWAYS and NOT SOMETIMES!!!

[Anonymous]June 2011

Dear freshmen --

Welcome to high school, which is very different from middle school. Living Environment is divided into two semesters: LE1 and LE2. If you fail a semester, you have to take it all over again. It's not like you can just get all your work done at the end of the year, or the end of the semester.

On the first day, you should know that you need to get your work done when it's assigned or even ahead of time. Once you get the sheet of homework assignments, start working on them.

I would have practiced with the review questions more on the course webpage. I did this for one test and I got a 96% on it -- my first good test grade in this class.

A word of advice: go to tutoring during your OPTA. Even if it's once a week, go and review so you can pass your test, go to college, get a job, and make lots and lots of money.

[Anonymous]June 2011

Dear future Living Environment students:

First of all, welcome to Murrow! My advice to you guys would be to not take this class or high school in general lightly. Don't slack off because it is something that you will regret. When you get things done right the first time, it makes life a lot easier.

Even though you might find Mr. Sprague annoying or weird (if you do) at first, you'll learn that he's pretty cool and funny, but takes his work very seriously. Make sure you do all your homework and take the time to study for the tests. If you take really good notes, then your studying time will be a breeze. Also, try your hardest not to procrastinate because its not fun to cram in a whole bunch of things in one night.

There isn't really much that I would have done differently this year because I worked really really hard and ended up doing very well. Sometimes hard work can be annoying and frustrating at times, but it's all worth it.

[Anonymous]June 2011

P.S. Watch out for the puppets.

Dear Freshmen,

This class is very interesting and Mr. Sprague finds good new useful ways of teaching, but this is one of the hardest freshman classes in my opinion. You have to work very hard to succeed.

I wish I knew his tests were extremely hard. If I had to take this course over I would start studying at least a week before every test and pay more attention. Do not take this class as a joke, but have fun. Have a great year as freshmen!

=D

KaitlynJune 2011

Dear Freshiesss,

When I first started biology I thought it was going to be easy; it wasn't. You need to pay attention from day 1. I know you are fresh out of 8th grade, and you probably think school is lame; grow up. It's really important to do well, and in the end it FEELS good.

MorganJune 2010

P.S. Mr. Sprague is very serious about homeworks. He's an awesome teacher; take advantage of it.

Dear Freshmen,

WELCOME TO HIGH SCHOOL!

I am going to make this letter as simple to understand as possible. For this Living Environment class, just pay attention, do your homework, and study for the tests (the study guides and practice questions are really helpful), and you should be fine.

This is only an easy class if you do your work. I wish I knew how much studying counts. If you don't study, you won't do well on the tests. If I could go back to the beginning of the year, I would have taken the tests more seriously. They count a lot on your report card grade and they help you with the Regents.

So, make the best of this class and take the advice from this letter and the others. Good luck!

RebeckaJune 2011

Dear new freshmen,

Wow! Welcome to high school... now is the time to buckle down. School is becoming no joke, you have lots of exams and Regents. People say that high school is supposed to be fun and memorable, but play your cards right. Have fun but don't be the idiot who fails classes and has to take them over again.

If I had to take the class over, I would pay attention way more, talk less, and STUDY! I had to bust my butt to make sure I passed the tests, but it gave me so much relief to do well. I so wish that I knew in September not studying would make my life harder.

Well, this is as sincerely as I can get. Have fun with high school and don't be too cool to do well.

WhitneyJune 2011

Dear Freshmen,

I wish I knew to take this course more serious. I should have studied more because the tests aren't easy. In this class tests and homework count for a lot. If I could take this course over again, I would do all of my homework and study for EVERY test. It's all worth it. Hard work in this class will get you far in the end. So the only advice I would give you is stay on top of everything. Trust me. Good luck!

[Anonymous]June 2010

Dear freshmen,

Well if you're reading this, summer is over and your first day of high school started. The first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and you will be fine.

OK, so right now you are sitting in Mr. Sprague's class and thinking "what am I going to do?" Mr. Sprague's class is really fun, but it's something you need to take seriously.

First, do your homeworks. They're like a gift: they help you study for the tests and give you homework credit on your grade. Second, study for tests/quizzes because they're worth more than half your grade. And it's not like junior high where studying means 5 minutes. High school is a lot harder. Third, take good notes and they will help you study and it will keep you organized. Forth, pay attention.

[Anonymous]June 2011

I wish I had a "heads up" about all the effort I had to put in, about the hard work, exams that you HAVE to study for, and the cool labs. I wish I knew all these things so I could've started my freshman year right, instead of struggling, trying to keep up, and studying during the weary hours the night before. My advice to you is just do your work and keep up by studying at least 15 minutes every single day when you get home.

Appreciate the fun in school, even when it is hard.

[Anonymous]June 2010

One thing I wish I knew about this course was not to throw away the extra credit coupons you get on the first day. I would definitely do my homework. Homework is important because it helps you understand the material and WILL effect your grade.

High school is NOT like 8th grade. Don't expect teachers to go after you if you're not working hard enough. YOU have to make an effort and get involved in school. Join after school activities that way you'll make many more friends.

[Anonymous]June 2010

Dear freshies!

OKay so when I read these letters last year, I was like "yeah okay, I'm not listening to this." But you MUST listen!

If you come late to Mr. Sprague's class, he will call your house. The first week of school, I got my house called. So yeah, LISTEN to me.

If I was able to start over I would do all of my homework. Some of you may get annoyed at him, but he's pretty awesome. But yeah, do your homework and don't take your phone out.

AmberJune 2011

P.S. "More biodiversity = more stable ecosystem"

Dear Freshmen,

Some helpful advice I could give to you on taking this course is to take Mr. Sprague seriously. He is one of the most funniest and funnest teachers you will ever meet, but he is really serious about his teachings and grading policy. Pay attention during the lessons, do his homeworks, and STUDY!!! for his tests. Don't forget to have a fun learning experience along the way.

The only thing I wish I knew in the beginning of the course is to study for his tests. But one thing I can't stress enough is to never slack or hand homework in late. Late homework will be penalized!!

Sincerely,

SylviaJune 2011

To the freshmen,

If there was anything I wish I knew about this course on the first day, it would be that the tests were pretty difficult. If you don't study, your chances of passing are low.

If I could redo this year, I would do my homework. It's sad to know that putting 30 minutes of effort at home to do work would have increased my grade by at least 5 points.

All I can tell you is do your work. You might not need all of this information in the future, but what you learn now is important. Don't screw yourself by not taking school seriously.

[Anonymous]June 2011

P.S. Mr. Sprague is CRAZY!!

Dear freshies,

Welcome to Murrow! This school is fun, but high school comes with a lot of hard work. Mr. Sprague makes the class fun.

On the first day, I wish I knew I needed to do a lot of studying for biology. I did all my homework and reached all the requirements on the projects and those two things helped me out a lot. So make sure you do ALL your homework, projects, do nows, and study for the exams.

Have fun! High School can be very exciting, but you have to do all your work, because summer school is not fun.

KarolinaJune 2011

P.S. On the first day of class, Mr. Sprague stands on the table... don't be frighented. :D

Dear incoming freshmen,

As you're reading these letters you're most likely thinking, "this is fake" and we're just writing random things to get this letter done. But LISTEN to what we are saying. I wish I did.

I wish I knew how much labs meant because I was so close to failing the class and being barred from taking the Regents and it took me a lot of work to make up the ones I was missing. If you miss a lab, make it up the first chance you get! Do NOT wait until the last minute. I was so lucky I was able to make up enough to take the Regents. Some people weren't able to.

My advice is just do the right thing! Do the homework, they help more than you think, and pay attention in class. It will make things much easier. Go on the course webpage and do the practice questions before a test and you'll ace the exam if you do. If you do these simple things, I promise you'll do well.

GabbyJune 2011

Dear freshies,

At the beginning of the year, I felt like I had something to prove. I wish I knew that Mr. Sprague was the type of teacher that will do anything to make sure you put in effort to pass. Don't make the mistakes I did. Mr. Sprague stayed after school to help me study for the exams and work on the homeworks. I just wish that I hadn't waited until the end of the year to take advantage of it... I could have done so much better in this class.

Study and do the work. Believe me it will help you. The best advice I can give you is to really think about all of your decisions before you make them.